Top 7 Lessons on Board Engagement

As long as I have worked for nonprofits I have volunteered as a board member.  I’ve sat on a variety of boards and had very different experiences.  I can be a highly engaged board member hitting up friends and strangers, volunteering around the clock and donating as generously as I can.  I can also barely come to board meetings.

In working with nonprofit clients I see this same pattern over and over.  Richmond is a small town, I might work with the same board member across three different organizations.  On one board she is super enthusiastic, another she doesn’t even return emails.  So if it isn’t about the board member, what is it?

Turns out it is all about engagement.  So how do you successfully engage board members without spending day in and day out cultivating them?  Here is a simple list of  seven things you must do.

1.  Tell the truth.  This is perhaps the most important thing you can do.  When soliciting them for your board be honest about what you need from them and what  you have them slated to work on.  If this is a working board where everyone is expected to devote 5+ hours a week, your prospect needs to know this.

2. Once I say yes, spend the time to complete a board orientation.  Give me a board book, teach me about the organization. Give me enough information to fall in lve with your cause and talk to others about it.  This can be formal or informal done as a group or as a one on one meeting.  The key is that this should happen before my first board meeting.  And, giving me a 100 page board book doesn’t count.

3. Have me sign a contract. Yes, I know the word contract is a scary word but seriously outline my responsibilities, my time commitment and any financial guidelines in place.  Have me sign it, in person, in ink.  It makes my relationship to your nonprofit feel real and it outlines very clearly your expectations of our relationship.

4. Tell me stories.  I am your most important donor, no matter how much I give.  I have the power to give you my money, my time, my address book, and leverage my friends and colleagues.  Give me stories that will make me cry and stories that I can share in the elevator and over drinks at a party.  One story doesn’t count.  I need a new story every few weeks.

5. Make good use of my time.  Craft clear and tight agendas for board meetings and committee meetings.  Send me information ahead of time.  Remind me gently and often.

6. Expect me to work.  This is a big one.  You must have clear expectations of me.  I overheard a board member say once, “This is my favorite board.  I come once a quarter hear some information and leave.”  This is an example of something you do not want to overhear.    Even if I have significant wealth, you still need to expect me to work and volunteer my time.

7. Say please and thank you. Just like your parents taught you.  In writing, publically, privately, by phone. Just do it. 
So much of our nonprofit work at Floricane centers around helping nonprofits be more efficient and effective and develop bold visions and plans for their future.  At the center of all it is a productive and highly engaged board.  The best strategic plan will not succeed without the support of your board. Spend the time to engage board members and you will be rewarded.

Tourism B-Roll Keeps the Story Going at RIC/RVA Session Three

Last night the curtain opened on the third edition of the RIC/RVA history event. As we dodged a brief rain, we piled into the cozy theater of the American Civil War Center at Historic Tredegar. With the highest attendance yet, the night proved to be a proper culmination of the preceding events. This time the focus was on the way our story is told through film. Part humorous, part educational, and wholly enjoyable, this may have been our best event yet.

Our first scene of the night opened on John with a recap of the past three events and a reminder of the goal of the series: to tell a new story of Richmond. Taking what we learned in our poster making and map revamping, the direction of the conversation was starting to shape up nicely. From the stories told in our history books, to that illuminated through our built spaces, the richness and complexity of our fair city has never been fully captured. As John introduced the night’s proceedings it became clear that we had the unique ability to start getting the full story straight; that we could illuminate the innovation, revolution, and drastic change that continues to shape our town.

With a slow fade Bill Martin of the Valentine Richmond History Center took the floor and introduced three tourism films of Richmond’s past. With all the attendees encouraged to mimic a Mystery Science Theater approach, the films began to play.

The first, from 1957, was a black and white stroll through Richmond’s historical landmarks. With the ‘voice of God’ narrator booming, the commentary of the participants reached a fevered pitch. Laughably out dated, the film offered an interesting view into how our story’s been told.

The second film, from 1977, kicked it up a notch with more of a lifestyle feature. Permitting a glimpse into the discos, and short shorts of ‘70s living in RVA, the crowd clearly enjoyed this musical romp.

The third tourism film featured, from 2007, brought us into the present with a fully diverse swath of Richmond residents, a still heavy focus on history, and an active attempt at pulling folks here.

It was, however, with the fourth film of the night that we began to take a turn. Two students from St. Christopher's featured a film they produced that offered a personal look at their city. At once somber, and intriguing, it led us naturally to a facilitated conversation about how we would tell a new story through film.

We then split into groups and discussed different aspects of the city, from travel, to our general swagger; we could feel the new story coming together. With the night wrapping up, John again took the floor and threw down the gauntlet. He encouraged us all to film our own one to two minute video of our version of #RVA. These would then be the feature of our fourth session, a screening of the new story. It was the opportunity we’d been waiting for! Excited and motivated, we ended our evening hungry for the last session. The work of i.e.*, The Library of Virginia, The Valentine, and The American Civil War Center has certainly paid off.

Follow this link for specifics on the video project. Submissions are due April 19th!

RIC/RVA: Capture YOUR RVA on Video

We need YOUR help to continue telling the new story of Richmond, VA!

Where We've Been

The RIC/RVA History series has been a huge success so far. For the last six weeks we've been encouraging participants to tell a new story of Richmond. In the first session, we designed posters to communicate a message that represented where we're going, and where we've been. In the second session, we re-mapped Richmond to encourage stronger geographical ties. In our third session, we brainstormed how we could tell the story of Richmond through video, making it personalized and meaningful. Now, we're taking a bold step forward, and actually telling that story.

Where We're Going

We want you to tell us your story! For our fourth and final session we want to have a screening of stories told by Richmond residents. We want YOU to record a short video about your story in Richmond. Be it a tour of RVA alleys, views from your favorite roof tops, a slice of the Richmond quiet life, or a snapshot of a night out, we want to see it!

The Details for Your Video

Length: Up to 2 minutes running time

Format: Use anything you want -- iPhone, Droid, handheld, etc. However, if using a mobile device shoot your video in the "landscape" or horizontal orientation.

Where to Send It: Post your video to either YouTube or Vimeo with RIC/RVA somewhere in the title. Then send the link to josh@floricane.com

Content: Anything you want! We just want to hear your story or even the one you just want to tell. Imagine the future of RVA, revisit the past, or celebrate the present! We only ask that you watch the language, and steer away from full frontal.

Due Date: Submit your short by Thursday April 19th, 11:59pmSaturday April 21st, 11:59 am. The deadline has been EXTENDED!

Help us make the last event a huge success!

Tumblr Founder Talks About Microblogging Site’s Basics

As a part of Mass Communications month at VCU, founder of Tumblr David Karp came to speak about his rapidly growing microblogging platform earlier this week.

There is a slight chance that you may or may not be clear as to what exactly Tumblr is. Tumblr is not Facebook, it’s not Twitter, not Pinterest, nor is it Instagram. Tumblr is a blogging service that posts what Karp himself called “bite-sized information.” He was throw n off by the idea of ominous empty text posts for other blogging platforms like WordPress, TypePad and Blogger. He was inspired to start his own microblogging website that would encourage users to post just a photo, a powerful quote, a link, or if you want, a big long text post. So that’s what Tumblr is.

Where some say that Tumblr loses the blogger’s voice without placing the emphasis on strictly text content, Karp disagrees. He pointed out that you can gain a better sense about a blogger by scanning their small posts: a quote they felt resonated with them, an image from the start of their day taken on their smartphone, etc.  Many businesses are utilizing Tumblr as a means to provide an inspiration board, to reblog information on upcoming events, and just to get their name out on the ever-expanding platform.

Just to give you an idea of Tumblr’s numbers just five years after they have started: there are 50 million Tumblrs, 600 posts per second, 16 billion page views per month…and growing! Tumblr is headquartered in New York but also has an office in Richmond which is growing ever so rapidly.

Karp was charming, funny and engaging. He’s a 25 year old kid who dropped out of high school and eventually went off running with his million-dollar idea. The growth of Tumblr is an inspiring digital fairytale to watch and behold. An entire generation couldn’t imagine life without their Tumblr, and that is something worth taking note of…or simply, reblogging.

We were inspired and wanted in on the game, you should be too! Follow the newly-launched, official Floricane Tumblr!

Letter from John: April 2012

Two months of actively considering the power of Beethoven's Fifth Symphony at the elbow of Steven Smith, music director for the Richmond Symphony, can really stretch your mind.

And then there's the experience of standing on stage with Steven -- along with 60 professional musicians and 80 hospital leaders from HCA's CJW Medical Center. 140 people experiencing music as a metaphor for change and leadership is a whole new level of stretching your mind.

During our exploration of Beethoven and his Fifth Symphony, Steven talked often about the power of bringing new, and different, voices to a vision. Steven is talking about instruments and musicians, and a musical vision, of course. But that hardly matters once you understand, and experience, the depth and complexity of Beethoven's Fifth.

This month's newsletter is an interesting departure for me -- and for Floricane. It reflects a multitude of voices that aren't mine. Our editorial coordinator, Sabrina Barekzai, reflects on her vantage point at the recent Symphony/HCA mash up, while our new project manager, Josh Epperson, deconstructs our new collaborative creativity series. On the business front, two of our lead consultants -- Sarah Milston and Debra Saneda -- chime in on their recent projects.

Increasingly, the individuals who have joined our team are tuning their own voices and contributing to the symphony of change we're committed to performing in Richmond. (In fact, Sarah, Debra and Cara will be performing as a trio with the staff of The Daily Planet later this month!) It's part of our evolution as a business, and it ebbs and flows as we move from idea to event, from client to initiative.

Striking a balance between strategic and organic is hard for any business, and particularly hard for individuals in leadership roles within organizations. I'm fortunate to have an exceptionally self-aware group to keep me in check and hold me increasingly accountable. (Sharing my Insights profile with my team = wise + challenging!)

I hope you enjoy the symphony of voices captured in this month's newsletter. Let us know how you're making music, and giving others a chance to experience the power of a shared performance.

Playground Perspectives: April 2012

As she prepares to celebrate her fourth birthday, Thea is faced with the challenge of determining which of her best friends will be invited to attend the party.

Let's not even talk about whether boys are allowed, or what color icing the cupcakes should have on them!

I exaggerate, but only slightly. It's been amazing to watch from the sidelines as our young child begins to create and navigate relationships, and circles of relationships.

Co ming home from the playground the other day, she and one of her best friends clutched hands as they ran across the field. Inseparable. Beautiful. And subject to change at a moment's notice.

How like our world of work. Except we don't slow down to see the beauty as often as we should...

One of our clients is Bon Secours Virginia, an organization that has invested itself tremendously in the development of its people and its culture. Their partnership with the Gallup Organization is well-known in leadership circles; albeit less-known here in Richmond.

Gallup has found a powerful voice for itself in the development of strong cultures and organizational leadership. Its engagement instruments help organizations measure a set of factors that are key for a highly engaged group of employees (or children, really).

A while back, we spent six months exploring the connection between leadership and engagement with Bon Secours Virginia's top leaders. One of the engagement questions Gallup consistently asks in organizations continued to surface -- Do you have a best friend at work?

As you might imagine, people consistently wrestle with what that question means, and its implications.

Most of us work in environments that hammer home messages about the separation of our work life and our home life - messages about work/life balance, work friends and real friends, leaving our personal issues at home.

Deep down, most of us also know that work is one of the most personal things we will do in our lives.

I had lunch today with two of my best friends at work -- colleagues, mentors and friends, both of them, from my time at Luck Companies. It was through Donald and Bob, in particular, that I discovered the real and important power of emotional relationships in my work. Our ability to engage and make an impact was amplified by our relationships.

Which takes us back to the schoolyard. Thea's school holds an annual Pizza Fun Night (or Pizza! Fun! Night! as Thea and I like to call it). Last year, our three-year-old clung to our knees as Jonathan the Juggler performed to a motley crowd of preschoolers and their parents.

This year, her ability to engage and make an impact was amplified by her relationships. Our girl and her gaggle of best friends were inseparable, and beautiful.

How lucky am I to deliberately blur the lines -- through Floricane -- between my work, my civic engagement and my personal life, between all of my varied relationships? And to have a four-year-old daughter who helps me slow down and see the beauty in each of those friendships?

When The Symphony Serenaded The Hospital

The sounds of Ludwig van Beethoven’s 5th Symphony rang out over at Center Stage last week in the middle of the afternoon. The Richmond Symphony, clad in black was notshy about their passion for this piece. The concentration on their faces under the conduction of Steven Smith was unlike anything I’ve seen before.

I had the opportunity to sit in on a special Floricane collaboration with the Richmond Symphony and the CJW Medical Center. The creative facilitation was led by Floricane's John Sarvay and was part of a leadership team "treat" (not retreat!) to energize and reconnect an 80-person team of leaders from CJW. Steven and John co-facilitated the 140-person group of hospital executives and symphony musicians through a three-hour exploration of vision, leadership, creativity, collaboration and communication.

CJW staffers sat on stage, right beside the Richmond Symphony. What they saw was the passion, drive and dedication put forth into working together as a group. Experiencing that synchronicity with a leader’s vision set off light bulbs for the hospital team: Hey, this is exactly what we do with out patients.

Though unclear at first, the similarities between the two groups were drawn out in front of everyone. The connection felt by both groups through the performances was clear upon the last note played of Beethoven’s 5th Symphony. The  compassion that the CJW medical workers experienced for their patients is the same compassion experienced by the Richmond Symphony’s musicians.

The CJW workers were entranced, under a spell of beautiful music and wonder. How did the players know and understand the wild movements of their conductor? How did the players’ understand and communicate with their conductor? Body language, experience, confidence and understanding intentions.

What does a good conductor do? What can a good leader do to become a great leader? They raise expectations, change directions and create mystery.

Richmond Gets Re-Mapped During RIC/RVA Session Two

Last night, nestled in the basement of The Valentine Richmond History Center, we presented the second part of the RIC/RVA event series. Fighting the urge to frolic in thebeauty of an 80-degree evening, 40 Richmonders once again put their heads together to think differently about the town in which they live. And if I do say so myself, we created our own bit of beauty – ours shining through new ideas, and a city reimagined.

True to form John began with a challenge. To engage properly in the depths of Richmond’s past, he told us, we needed to understand Richmond through the city’s built spaces.  Here, we were reminded, were the tangible manifestations of all the conflict, innovation, and pride Richmond has wanted to show the world. Leaving our interests piqued, John handed the floor over to Gregg Kimball, of the Library of Virginia, and Bill Martin our gracious host at the Valentine. With an obvious excitement the pair walked us through the ways in which the landscape of Richmond has been carved and re-carved. Not surprisingly, the crowd was rapt by the presentation. Each building torn down, each community split in two, was a part of our fractured past, and the comments from the audience were vigorous. Notably Christy Coleman of The American Civil War Center at Historic Tredegar, gave some significant context for many of the buildings and events that surrounded them. Piece by piece the rich history of what has been built, torn down, or denied its proper place, began to come together. And with that, we moved from the informative to the creative.

As the empty wine bottles began to pile up, attendees were led by John and Peter Fraser, of Fraser Design Associates, into a mapping exercise that further explored our city’s landscape. The results were inspiring to say the least! Instructed to re-imagine how the city is connected, where we envision its focus, and how we will all relate accordingly, groups of 6 literally remapped Richmond. Taking decidedly green approaches, each group made clear that connectivity and inclusion were paramount. It was so heartening to know that if we could have our way, there would be far fewer fissures and separations between the members of our community.

With Floricane at the helm, and some help from i.e.*, this series is proving to be a spectacular way imagine our cities future!